Chase your Dreams and Write

Hello fellow creatives,

Inside each of us, there is something that ignites passion in our hearts and creates purpose in our soul. It’s no easy task admitting that what we covet is at odds with our current life. It seems unattainable and foreign. Utterly terrifying. That’s when you’ll know you’re onto something: for if your dreams don’t scare you, then they’re not big enough.

‘I have lots of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.’ – Oprah Winfrey.

Don’t hide in fear, grasp that force and channel it. Hold the big picture, your dream, clearly in your mind, without doubt and enjoy the sensations as you imagine yourself having already achieved your dreams.

‘Never be ashamed! There’s some who will hold it against you, but they are not worth bothering with.’ – J. K. Rowling.

Forget the people who mock your dreams; they won’t help you succeed. You need to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who motivate and encourage you to prosper.

‘You will never find time for anything. You must make it.’ –  Charles Buxton. M

Don’t fool yourself with the belief that you’ll have time for your dreams in the future… there’s never a better time than now. Magical thinking won’t manifet your aspirations, you need to take action.  To work with commitment towards your goals. Building knowledge, connections or funds. The road will be long and at times difficult. But true failure only comes when you quit.

‘Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.’ – Nelson Mandela.

Equal importance should be given to each and every milestone. No matter how small. Don’t neglect or underestimate them. For each miniature victory is a step towards achieving your dreams.

Now go chase them!!!

What dream are you working towards? Tell me about you recent milestone. We have a great community of motivators… so let’s celebrate our journey together.

Don’t forget to leave a comment and share your thoughts. You know I love hearing from you.

Thanks for stopping by, until next time, Much Love.

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© Author Lorraine Ambers and http://www.lorraineambers.com, 2021.

Be Creative and Dream Big!

Welcome fellow creators! This week I’ve had the honor posting over on Thoughtful Minds United. I want to say a massive thanks to fellow blogger Fairen for the opportunity. It’s always a pleasure too work with this amazing community.

Do you dream of taking your passion and creating a new future, but something holds you back? You’re not alone. And yes, it is possible… Read on to be inspired, and hopefully, by the end of the post you’ll have the motivation to finally get started. So pop on over to Thoughtful Minds United and check out the post.

My name is Lorraine Ambers and I write Adult Fantasy novels with dark, gritty characters, romantic liaisons and a dash of adventure. Let’s connect! Tell me, what your aspiration is? What fear holds you back? And how do you plan to over come them? Share your passions with me, you know I love hearing from you.

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© Author Lorraine Ambers and http://www.lorraineambers.com, 2020.

Ten Steps… Stop Daydreaming and Start Growing your Business

We all have aspirations of becoming more successful, of being more fulfilled? Have you always romanticised about being a writer? Or about finishing your novel? Maybe, like me you hold onto the possibility of being published. But here’s the catch, dreams won’t come true by fantasising about them. No, you have to put in the work.

Some of you are wondering, but how? Where do we start? Well, I’m here to guide you through the process – read my Ten Step Plan to get you on track. It’s time to be brave, battle through your fears and start taking action towards your dreams.

• Commit – This should come as no surprise, but the next step in your plan is to actually commit. You’ve pictured the end goal, held the dream in your heart, filled notebooks and Pinterest boards with your ideas; the next move is to make a promise to your self to start. If your vision hasn’t taken off yet, then there is obviously a level of difficulty to it. Not to worry, the following steps will help.

• Plan – Well done, the hardest part is beginning. We’ve all heard that person who constantly talks of setting up a business, or writing a novel, or converting their loft into a studio. While they have committed to the idea, they have yet to make any plans. And that’s what you should do, write it down, create a course of action and make sure it logically supports the envisaged dream.

• Study – What? Why? I hear you groan. If it’s a necessary skill to your business, then committing to learning everything you can about that industry is vital. As a writer, I studied by attending a creative writing course, and now my skills are worked upon by reading, writing, editing and working with Critique Partners. Maybe you need to touch up on you marketing skills, or research Platform Building, or discover your Target Audience. Whatever the issue, there will be some form of developing and growing your skillset.

• Practise – This is where the ground work begins, building the foundations as you being to cultivate your dreams. Get dirty, get bruised and tumble into self-doubt; and then dust yourself off and climb back on that metaphorical unicorn, ready to chase your dreams over the nearest rainbow. Never give up, because you never know how close you are to making your ideas blossom into reality.

• Action – Finally, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. TA DAA!! Take those tentative steps into the unknown. Be warned, reality has wicked sense of humour: Don’t be disheartened by the truth, that no matter how much effort we’ve invested up to this point, we will inevitable not be where we want to be. Maybe we’re not confident enough, fast enough, or media savvy enough. There will come a time when you hit a wall, it happens to everyone. The difference between success and failure is that the successful people never quit. Don’t berate yourself, it’s all part of the process, so let’s continue onwards with our Ten Step Plan.

• Community – Developing a strong foundation of people who encourage and motivate you will help you stay the course through difficult times. Whether they’re friends and family, an online group for entrepreneurs, or the wonderful world of fellow bloggers; having people who can offer support when you need it most is beneficial.

• Health – It can be a long, winding road to reaching your goals. And many creatives struggle with mental health. It’s important to listen to your body, watch out for signs of stress and anxiety and take care of yourself. If you crash from Creative Burnout, your beloved dreams will temporarily perish. The same applies for the health of your body, so get some sleep, eat healthy meals, and take time to recover.

• Take Risks – For life to move forward in a new direction, risks must be taken. It’s easy to stay safe, to live in your comfort zone, but nothing changes. Everyday push your boundaries, it’s the only way to grow and develop (and not just in business). Make that call, ask that blogger to beta read, attend that writing conference. It doesn’t have to be massive steps. In fact, my number one peace of advice to budding new entrepreneurs is: Conquer your fears by taking small steps, one at a time, but keep moving forward. This is how you build self-esteem, by looking back and recollecting all of those tiny achievements. You can do it, you’re AWESOME!

• Embrace Failures – No one is perfect, humans make mistakes, and failure in some form or another is inevitable. Don’t wallow in the misery of what you’ve lost, instead find the silver lining and learn from the valuable lessons gained. What will you do differently next time? Where will you invest more? How will you overcome the current hurdle and rise victorious?

• Celebrate Each Triumph – Life is like trying to climb a giant beans stalk, instead of gazing up at the blanket of clouds and imagining the glittering castle beyond (or, your ideal vision of success). Celebrate each leaf that you climb! Remember to look back at all the other small accomplishments you’ve made, because that is embracing the journey, and that is the true measure of your success.

What step are you embracing at the moment? Do you have any advice for your fellow readers, maybe a further steps to add? Whatever your message, please comment – you know I love hearing from you.

Thanks for stopping by, until next time, Much Love.

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© Author Lorraine Ambers and http://www.lorraineambers.com, 2019.

The Power of Perseverance

Passion fills us with a burning desire to create, to manifest, to complete the things that bring us joy. It’s the passion that drives love, allowing us to learn, grow and develop. But what happens when that passion dries up, it no longer fills you with desire because the love has grown cold?

It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a business venture, romantic partner or in my case writing a novel, the outcome is still the same… boredom, procrastination and maybe a bit of resentment.

The options are set; do you continue onwards swimming against the tide? Or do you bundle all of your hopes and dreams into a boat and let the water carry it off into the distance?

This is where the Power of Perseverance comes in: It’s not easy, and it’s not a golden moment of clarity and joy. This is the part where we graft for what we once believed in, safe in the knowledge that all the effort we’ve put in is worth something valuable.

Yes, maybe changes are needed to bring it into alignment with who you are today, or how your business works in an ever-evolving world. Maybe that novel won’t get published, maybe we accept that in some way we failed.

But all is not lost. Take a long hard look at the journey you’ve been on, see where all of your past experiences have enabled you to grow.

My first novel is something I’m incredibly proud of. Unfortunately, it was not picked up by an agent, and I’m fine with that. Why? Because of how much I learned throughout that process. The same applies to my second and third novels, they offer a glimmer of hope. A stepping stone to where one day I will be, whilst allowing me to improve and become great at my craft.

If I dropped my pen and vowed to never write another word, then nothing would ever be achieved.

Here are some great quotes to keep you motivated and help you on your way:

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe.

“Pain is temporary. it may last a minute, an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” – Lance Armstrong.

Stay strong, keep going and remember… I believe in you!

Do you have a favourite quote based on the theme – Don’t quit? If so, please share it. You know I love hearing from you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time, Much Love.

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© Author Lorraine Ambers and http://www.lorraineambers.com, 2019.

Perseverance in your Dream

There comes a time in everyone’s journey to success where the depths seem too deep, the mountain too high and the dream too far.

It’s easy to talk about goals and accomplishments when were in a positive place, the true test of our resilience happens when we’ve sunk below deck, absorbed the inky ocean colours and turned midnight- blue.

During those harrowing times, self-compassion and self-love sound like fairy-tales, told to wayward travellers who can only ponder at the creatures dwelling below the surface.

photo credit: Women Underwater via photopin (license)

For my fellow drifters, hang tight and wait for your anchor to be called home. And remember you’re not alone in the world, there are artists and dreamers who have been where you are. The glimmering sun is just beyond the surface, sometimes we need to kick, push against the tide and persevere.

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

– John Quincy Adams

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I will leave you with a couple of inspirational quotes and links to my popular posts in the hope that they help keep you afloat.

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5 Tips for Overcoming Doubt

Writers have faith in your dreams.

Enjoy the Writing Journey.

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Remember, it isn’t the dreamers who have good lives – it’s the doers. Remember also what I call the three Ps of success: passion, planning, and perseverance.

– Homer Hickam

How’s your WIP coming along? Share with me your tips for perseverance. You know I love hearing from you. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time, Much Love.

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© Author Lorraine Ambers and http://www.lorraineambers.com, 2018.